The Whitechapel murders attracted so much attention, as they were the first serial killings that the 'Met' dealt with.

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Introduction

Question Two The Whitechapel murders attracted so much attention, as they were the first serial killings that the 'Met' dealt with. The first of the Ripper victims was a forty-two year old prostitute from Whitechapel, names Mary Anne ('Polly') Nichols. The second, Annie Chapman, was also a prostitute, and was forty-seven when she was murdered. The third, was Elizabeth Stride, was forty-five when she was murdered, she was a prostitute aswell. The fourth woman (And prostitute) to be killed, was Catherine ('Kate') Eddowes. She was forty-six. Finally, the fifth victim was Mary Jane Kelly, who was the youngest prostitute to be murdered; she was twenty-five years old. The first murder, Polly Nichols, was committed on Friday 31st of August, 1888. She was found by Charles Cross, by a stable yard. He found her lying on her back, with her skirts pulled up (Almost to her waist), but he couldn't see any further details. ...read more.

Middle

She was lying on her side, her legs drawn up to her body with her feet against the wall on the right side of the passage she was found in. She was quite warm, except for her hands, the right of which was open and on her chest, the left, closed and lying on the ground. Her mouth was slightly open and there was a long cut in her next, above her jaw, cutting her windpipe in two. There were no mutilations on her body, which suggested that the murderer had run away. The fourth of the Ripper victims, was found in Mitre Square, less than an hour after Stride had been found. PC Edward Watkins, who had found her, said that she was on her back in a pool of blood, feet facing the square, with her clothes pulled up above her waist. Her throat had been cut, her stomach ripped up. ...read more.

Conclusion

The day after the murders of Stride and Eddowes, the Central News Agency received a postcard. This, like the letter, was signed 'Jack The Ripper'. It had been sent the day that these two murders had been committed, but it was possible for this to be a hoax, as the writer of the card could have read about the murders before sending it. Finally, a letter was received by George Lusk, president of the Vigilance Committee, on the 16th of October 1888. Along with the letter (Which came in a cardboard box) was a human kidney, preserved in wine, which was later discovered to be very similar to the one that had been removes from Eddowes. The letter contained poorly spelt words, and was signed 'Catch me when you can Mishter Lusk' After these letters had been sent, the Ripper was thought of as more terrible than ever before, he seemed as if he was proud of the killings and then tried to 'show off' to the police and people who were trying to stop him. Emma Bowall 10.4 History Coursework ...read more.

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